Psalm 38

A Psalm of David to bring to remembrance.

1        In thy great indignation,

                   O Lord, rebuke me not;

          Nor on me lay thy chast'ning hand,

                   in thy displeasure hot.

2        For in me fast thine arrows stick,

                   thine hand doth press me sore:

3        And in my flesh there is no health,

                   nor soundness any more.

          This grief I have, because thy wrath

                   is forth against me gone;

          And in my bones there is no rest,

                   for sin that I have done.

4        Because gone up above mine head

                   my great transgressions be;

          And, as a weighty burden, they

                   too heavy are for me.

5        My wounds do stink, and are corrupt;

                   my folly makes it so.

6        I troubled am, and much bow'd down;

                   all day I mourning go.

7        For a disease that loathsome is

                   so fills my loins with pain,

          That in my weak and weary flesh

                   no soundness doth remain.

8        So feeble and infirm am I,

                   and broken am so sore,

          That, through disquiet of my heart,

                   I have been made to roar.

9        O Lord, all that I do desire

                   is still before thine eye;

          And of my heart the secret groans

                   not hidden are from thee.

10      My heart doth pant incessantly,

                   my strength doth quite decay;

          As for mine eyes, their wonted light

                   is from me gone away.

11      My lovers and my friends do stand

                   at distance from my sore;

          And those do stand aloof that were

                   kinsmen and kind before.

12      Yea, they that seek my life lay snares:

                   who seek to do me wrong

          Speak things mischievous, and deceits

                   imagine all day long.

13      But, as one deaf, that heareth not,

                   I suffer'd all to pass;

          I as a dumb man did become,

                   whose mouth not open'd was:

14      As one that hears not, in whose mouth

                   are no reproofs at all.

15      For, Lord, I hope in thee; my God,

                   thou'lt hear me when I call.

16      For I said, Hear me, lest they should

                   rejoice o'er me with pride;

          And o'er me magnify themselves,

                   when as my foot doth slide.

17      For I am near to halt, my grief

                   is still before mine eye:

18      For I'll declare my sin, and grieve

                   for mine iniquity.

19      But yet mine en'mies lively are,

                   and strong are they beside;

          And they that hate me wrongfully

                   are greatly multiply'd.

20      And they for good that render ill,

                   as en'mies me withstood;

          Yea, ev'n for this, because that I

                   do follow what is good.

21      Forsake me not, O Lord; my God,

                   far from me never be.

22      O Lord, thou my salvation art,

                   haste to give help to me.